Improvement in shoes



1. u. vERmLYA.

Shoes.

Patented Feb EEE.;

JAMES H. VERMILYA, OF VASHINGTON, DISTRlCT OF COLUMBIA.

lMPROVEMNT IN SHOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l47,5r33, dated February 17,1874; application filed January 6, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. VERMILYA, of Vashington, in the county of Washington and District of Columbia, have invented certain Improvements in Shoes, ot' which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to that class of shoes in which buttons are used, with button-holes for fastening; andthe invention consists in inserting a cord between the outer layer of the shoe and the lining around or in front of the button-holes in such a manner as to strengthen them, as hereinafter more fully explained.

Figure l represents a shoe complete, with my improvement applied thereto. Fig'. 2 represents the outer layer, with the lining detached, showing the manner of applying the cord; and Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the llap taken through one of the button-holes, showing the cord infront of the button. It is now common to construct shoes for ladies7 and childrens wear, and especially gaiters, with buttons and button-holes, andin all iirstclass work it is necessary to work the buttonholes by hand, as is usually done on cloth garments, which operation adds considerably to the cost of the shoe. Even when this is done the button-holes frequently tear out, especially when the material is light and thin; and to remedy this', it is common with some makers to lay a cord, or strands of silk or thread, along the edge of t-he buttonhole and secure it by the stitches formed by hand in working the button-hole.

To obviate the necessityT of working the button-holes, and at the same time greatly increase their strength, is the object of my invention, and to do this, I lprovide a strong cord, e, preferring for this purpose one composed ot" several strands of strong linen thread, properly waxed, such as is used by shoemakers in sewing the soles of boots. or shoes; and after the button'holes are cut in the ap A, secure it by paste to the inner face of the outside layer, in such a manner that the cord e shall pass around or along in front of each of the button-holes o, as shown in Fig. 2. As represented in Fig. 2, the cord e may be arranged in various ways. It may be passed entirely around each button-hole successively,

as shown in the upper part of said iigure, or it may be arranged in a zigzag form between and in front of each hole, as shown at the central portion ot' said figure, or it may be arranged in a curved or in a straight line along in front of them, as shown in the lower portion of Fig. 2. A little paste rubbed upon the leather when the cord'is applied will suffice to hold it in place, after which the lining is placed over it, when the tlap is placed on a sewingmachine and the parts stitched together, the dotted lines, Figs.,1 and 2, indicating the rows of stitching. It will thus be seen that the cord e is irmly secured in place, the stitching passing through it more or less, accordingto the manner in which it is arranged, and that, when thus secured, it will pass directly in front of that part of the button-hole where the shank of the button rests, and where the wear and strain mainly come, as shown in Fig. 3, in which the cord is shown enlarged for the purpose of showing it more clearly. If preferred, the cord may be laid in a direct line along in front of the rowof button-holes, in which case one or more rows of stitchin g might be run along in front of it, or on both sides of it, or through it, by which it would be held rmly in place and made to accomplish the desired result. By using a strong cord, such as described, it can be made so small that when the shoe is finished it will not be observed, though, by using a larger cord, it

`can be arranged so as to render the shoe more ornamental, and while the labor and expense of applying it are so slight as scarcely to be of account, it adds greatly to the strength and durability of the shoe, and at the same time considerably lessens the expense by obviating the necessity of working the bottonholes.

It is obvious that it is applicable to shoes made of cloth, as well as to those made of leather, and that it may be applied to any and all styles of shoes, gaiters, or boots in which button-holes are used.

I am aware that a cord or wire has been inserted as a stay along the front edge of the tlap in front of the button-holes, and also that a braid has been sewed upon the under surface. of the flap to strengthen the button-holes,

:uid l do not claim either of these ns my in- 2. The cord e inserted between the lining venton; but, and outer layer of the shoe and secured in Having thus described my invention7 what place by stitching through or across the cord7 I claim ssubstantially as set forth.

1. A shoe, having its buttonholes strength- J ,l ened by the insertion of a cord, e, between the JA S H' VER'MILX A' outer layer, and the linings passed around or W'itnesses: betweenv and in front of the button-holes, Snb- J. M. KENNEY, stmltinlly as shown und described. v V. C. DODGE. 

